Hydrangea plant named &#39;JON02&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Hydrangea cultivar named ‘JON02’ is disclosed, characterized by a deep vibrant pink mophead inflorescence and dark green foliage strongly flushed greyed-purple. Plants are compact and well-branched, forming dense, attractive plants. The new variety is a Hydrangea, normally produced as an ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Variety denomination: ‘JON02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Hydrangea cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Jos de Jong in the Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to identify new Hydrangea varieties with darker foliage. The mutation resulting in the new variety was discovered by the inventor during August of 2012 at a commercial nursery in the Netherlands.

The parent is the unpatented commercial variety Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Black Diamond Baroque Angel’. The inventor grew large quantities of plants of the parent variety and selected for branch naturally occurring mutations with darker foliage and different flower colors.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘JON02’ by softwood cuttings was first performed during the Summer of 2012 at a commercial greenhouse in the Netherlands. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 2 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘JON02’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JON02’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JON02’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea cultivar:

-   -   1. Mop-head inflorescence.     -   2. Compact plant form.     -   3. Well branched growth habit.     -   4. Deep, vibrant pink colored inflorescence.     -   5. Dark green foliage prominently flushed dark purple.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘JON02’ are similar to plants of the parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘JON02’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has darker foliage than the parent variety,         with more purple flushing.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘JON02’ can be compared to the commercial variety Hydrangea ‘Jon03’, filed concurrently. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘JON03’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. ‘Jon02’ has brighter, darker pink flowers than ‘Jon03’.

‘JON02’ can be compared to the commercial variety Hydrangea ‘Jon04’, filed concurrently. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘JON02’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. ‘Jon02’ has deep bright pink flowers, ‘Jon04’ has nearly red         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical flowering plant of ‘JON02’ grown in a greenhouse in the Netherlands. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 1.5 years. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘JON02’ plants grown in a greenhouse, in the Netherlands. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C. daytime and 5° to 10° C. at night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Measurements were taken during July of 2017.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘JON02’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 16 to 28 days at             approximately 22 to 27 ° C.         -   Root description.—Thick and fine, freely root branching and             dense, fibrous. White to tan, not accurately measured with             the R.H.S. chart.         -   Propagation method.—Softwood cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Age of plant described.—About 8 months.         -   Pot size.—1 gallon.         -   Growth habit.—Flowering perennial shrub. Upright,             non-climbing.         -   Overall plant shape.—Round.         -   Height.—About 30 to 33 cm.         -   Plant spread.—About 35 to 45 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Branching characteristics.—Opposite, basal branches, some             pinching required. Non-fasciated.         -   Length of lateral branches/stems.—Approximately 15 to 30 cm             on an 8 month old plant.         -   Number of lateral branches.—Varies, depending upon pinching.             On average 8 on an 8 month old plant.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—6 mm.         -   Lateral branch shape and appearance.—Round.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Good.         -   Internode length.—Average 5 to 7 cm.         -   Branch/stem color.—Immature: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C,             faint flushing at nodes near Greyed-Purple N186A. Mature:             Near RHS Green 139A flushed Greyed-Purple N186A.         -   Branch/stem texture.—Glabrous, lenticels not observed.         -   Branch angle.—0 to about 30°.         -   Branch pubescence.—No. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite. Average Length: 10 to 15 cm.             Average Width: 7 to 8 cm. Shape of blade: Ovate, without             lobes. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded to broad tapered. Margin:             Crenate. Texture and appearance of top surface: Leathery,             slightly glossy. Texture and appearance of bottom surface:             Matte, reticulate veins. Color: Solid, non-variegated. Young             foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A flushed             Greyed-Purple N186B. Young foliage under side: Near RHS             Green 137A. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Green             N189B, flushed Greyed-Purple 187A. Mature foliage under             side: Near RHS Green 137A. Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation             color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color             under side: Near Yellow-green 145A.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: 2.0 cm. Diameter: 7 mm. Color:             Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-green 145A. Under side: Near RHA             Yellow-green 145B. Texture upper side: Glossy, glabrous.             Texture under side: Glossy, glabrous. -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Natural Season: June to October in the             Northern hemisphere.         -   Inflorescence.—Arrangement: Terminal corymb. Commercial             Type: Mophead. Inflorescence shape: Flattened sphere.             Panicle Height: 5 to 9 cm. Panicle Diameter: 12 to 18 cm.             Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Fertile flowers not             observed to date. Sterile Flowers: 12 to 24 average range.             Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent. Fragrance: None.         -   Sterile flower.—Bud shape: Obovate. Bud length: 7.0 mm. Bud             diameter: 6.0 mm. Bud color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 1454C             flushed Red-Purple 61A. Flower aspect: Upright and outward.             Flower shape: Cruciform if 4 sepals, slightly overlapping             whorl if 5 sepals. Flower Diameter: Average range 30 to             40 mm. Flower Depth: 20 mm. Aspect: Flat with and slightly             upwardly cupped.         -   Sterile flower sepals.—Sepal Arrangement: Cruciform if 4             sepals, slightly overlapping whorl if 5 sepals. Sepal             Number: 4 or 5. Length of sepal: Approximately 2.1 to             2.5 cm. Width of sepal: Approximately 1.5 cm. Angel of             Attachment/Aspect: Sepals angled upward approximately 15° to             35° from point of attachment. Sepals upwardly cupped. Apex:             Rounded. Shape of sepal: Broad rounded deltate. Sepal             margin: Serrate or crenate. Sepal Base: Obtuse. Sepal             Texture: Smooth, upper and under sides. Color: Upper surface             at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple 61B. Upper surface at             maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple 58B. Under surface at first             opening: Near RHS Red-Purple 61B. Under surface at maturity:             Near RHS Red-Purple N57C. Color when fading: Upper and lower             surfaces: Near RHS Red-Purple 59D.         -   Sterile flower petal.—Not observed.         -   Sterile flower pedicel.—Length: 10 to 20 mm. Diameter: 1 mm.             Angle: Upright and outward. Strength: Flexible, not prone to             breakage. Texture: Smooth. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green             146A.         -   Fertile flower.—Not observed to date. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Sterile flower.—All reproductive parts irregular and             malformed, reduced to less than 1 mm or not present. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.         -   Cold tolerance.—−24° C. to 38° C.         -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘JON02’ as herein illustrated and described. 